Managing shift work

[dontknowwhattodo80]

Hi

It's been 10 years since I've worked properly - done a couple of part time dinner lady jobs on and off in the meantime

I'm now getting itchy feet and need the money and have been looking around at jobs at the local hospital

I've never done shift work before- it'll be 37.5hrs a week , over 3 days

I've got two boys aged 9 & 14 ( about to go into yrs 5 & 10)

My DH works full time, away occasionally - no more than 2/3 nights a month. Flexibility to WFH occasionally

How easy is it to manage shift work with children ? Would child minders take on DS2 if I don't have set days? I can't get my head around how it'll work , but I'm really keen to get this sort of job

Thanks

If you have a partner who works regular hours it’s manageable because they can do the pick-ups from childcare etc. Long days are likely to be 7-8 (ish) so your DH will need to drop off at a CM and pick up afterwards on the days you are working. Also think about night shifts if he works away. Who will be at home with the DC?

It’s doable (I’ve been doing it for a decade) but it’s hard work and you have to be very organised. And I don’t work FT because I couldn’t make the shifts work. Our CM takes the DC from 7.30 before school till 5.30 after school on set days. So there are days that I have childcare when I’m not working but there’s no way around it. If I could work regular hours I would.

Thanks for the reply @theboud

Night shifts would be the easier shifts to deal with, DH is away occasionally but usually has control over when his nights away are.

Day shifts would be harder to manage as DH isn't normally home until 6.30. However I say all this but he's absolutely convinced he could manage everything. I think he's saying that though as he knows how keen I am to get the job. I'm the one worried about how we'll manage!!